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Bretagne, a 15-year-old golden retriever that is believed to be the last surviving search dog from Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has returned to New York City as a nominee for a hero dog award. (Today.com) more >

A 15-year-old golden retriever that is believed to be the last surviving search dog from Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has returned to New York City as a nominee for a hero dog award.

Bretagne (pronounced Brittany) lives in Cypress, Texas, with her owner Denise Corliss and returned to New York City for the first time since the attacks, making a stop at NBC’s “Today” show Thursday morning.

“After 9/11, everybody — all of us — felt such sadness,” said Miss Corliss, 49. “We all wanted to help. I just felt so honored that we were able to respond.”

Bretagne persevered through nearly two weeks of 12-hour shifts at Ground Zero, Today.com reported. She is one of eight finalists for the American Humane Association’s annual Hero Dog Awards. Miss Corliss is preparing to travel with her dog to Beverly Hills for a stroll down the red carpet on the night of the award ceremony in late September, Today.com reported.

Dr. Cindy Otto, a veterinarian who cared for 9/11 search dogs, said the 300 or so dogs who worked at Ground Zero brought much-needed joy to the victims and first-responders.

“You’d see firefighters sitting there, unanimated, stone-faced, no emotion, and then they’d see a dog and break out into a smile,” she recalled. “Those dogs brought the power of hope. They removed the gloom for just an instant — and that was huge because it was a pretty dismal place to be.”